Program
Program items, speakers and formats to discover
debate
Fake news is not a fringe phenomenon. It affects our democracy, our health, our climate, our jobs – and our everyday lives. It appears in our feeds, in family chats, in election campaigns, in classrooms, and on the street.
That 's why we're bringing this issue to the forefront. In our debate, we're bringing together experts from research, journalism, and civil society – people who deal with disinformation, digital media, and their societal impact on a daily basis.
We'll examine: How do fake news actually originate? Why do they spread so quickly? Who do they harm – and who do they benefit? And above all: How can we, as a society, deal with them?
But this stage doesn't belong to the experts alone – it belongs to you too. Make the debate yours – bring your questions, your perspectives, and your experiences.
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science
What does research know about fake news? What mechanisms are behind it? And how are disinformation, platform logic, and AI changing our society in the long term? At the Fake News Festival, scientists give insights into current issues surrounding fake news—and beyond—in compact research presentations. They cover economic dynamics, legal challenges, cultural patterns of interpretation, and social impacts. In short: the many levels on which the topic operates.
The format is “classically scientific” – and at the same time open to anyone who is interested: Each presentation lasts about 20 minutes, followed by time for questions and discussion. Yes, these presentations can be challenging. Research is often complex – and even scientists don't always understand every detail the first time they hear it. That's completely normal. The important thing is that you don't have to take everything in. Take away what interests you, inspires you, or makes you think further.
The lectures take place simultaneously. You can switch rooms after each session and choose the topics that interest you most. The presentations are broadly categorized by discipline – economics, law, and cultural studies – thus offering different academic perspectives on the topic. Create your own mini research program – and discover just how diverse and surprising the science surrounding fake news can be.
Test yourself: Which photo is real,
and which is AI-generated?
AI-generated
real photo
real photo
real photo
AI-generated
AI-generated
WORKSHOPS
Our workshops are the heart of the festival. They are not just about listening – they are about getting involved.
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In small groups, you can try things out, ask questions, discuss, and become active yourself. Some workshops show you in a hands-on way how AI works or which features can help you identify AI-generated images. Others explore disinformation in debates around democracy, climate, or health. And some give you practical tools to better assess and understand online content.
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All workshop slots last 90 minutes and are generally open to everyone. If a workshop is designed for a specific target group – for example young people or senior citizens – this will be clearly indicated in the program.
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You don’t need any prior knowledge. For every workshop you attend, you can collect a stamp on your personal festival pass. And if you like, we can issue you a certificate for your workshop participation afterwards.
For example, in one of our workshops you can learn which features may indicate that an image was generated by AI.